CANTON, Ohio --Mount Union's women's swimming and diving team opened the 2012-13 season with a pair of wins over Defiance (146-52) and Malone (138-52) Friday, Oct. 26th at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton Ohio. 

The Purple Raiders looked impressive in their season debut, placing first in all of their events except two.

Freshmen Sara Fountain (North Ridgeville/Fairview), Rose Aldo (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield, and Lauren Lammlein (Uniontown/Hoover) each looked great in their collegiate debuts, with Fountain taking a first in the one meter diving event (150.20), Aldo placing first in the 200 yard freestyle (2:04.23) and Lammlein swam to a first place finish in the 500 yard freestyle (5:35.19). 

Junior Courtney Gabel (Freemont/Freemont Ross) anchored the 200 yard medley relay (1:55.75) to a first place finish, and took a first in one of her best events the 50 yard freestyle (24.61).

Seniors Madalyn Zalewski (New Kensington, Pa/Valley) and Katy Alkire (Akron/Firestone) started their senior year off with victories in the 1,000 yard individual freestyle (11:34.60) and 200 individual IM respectively (2:22.34). 

The Raiders return to the pool tomorrow at Hiram, with the meet scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.